The Solomon Islands is set to sign an agreement allowing the United States Coast Guard to patrol its territorial waters alongside local police, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale announced during a visit to Washington. The move marks a significant step in the Pacific nation’s efforts to expand maritime cooperation with the United States.
Wale, who assumed office in May with a commitment to pursue new directions for the Solomon Islands, met with US Coast Guard Vice Commandant Admiral Thomas Allan and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Monday. Discussions focused on evolving bilateral ties, maritime security, and potential investment opportunities, including plans to develop a tuna processing facility at Bina Harbour.
The Solomon Islands, regarded as China’s closest security partner in the South Pacific, signed a confidential security pact with Beijing in 2022. Despite this, Wale’s visit signals an intention to diversify partnerships amid increasing regional competition between the United States and China. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington declined to comment directly on the agreement, characterizing it as a bilateral matter between the Solomon Islands and the United States.
In recent years, the US Coast Guard has expanded its presence in the South Pacific, frequently conducting patrols in collaboration with local enforcement agencies. These joint patrols have included assigning “ship riders,” local officers who accompany US vessels to board and inspect fishing fleets suspected of illegal activity across extensive maritime zones. In 2024, such joint patrols resulted in inspections and disputes with Chinese fishing boats in Vanuatu and Kiribati, highlighting ongoing tensions over maritime resource management in the region.
The Solomon Islands oversees an exclusive economic zone of approximately 1.5 million square kilometers, where tuna fishing remains a significant industry. The proposed processing facility at Bina Harbour has attracted attention from regional stakeholders. While China has shown interest in the project, Australia has expressed concern that the harbor development could serve dual commercial and military purposes.
In addition to maritime cooperation, the US announced $6 million in new funding to expand unexploded ordnance removal efforts in the Solomon Islands, a country still dealing with remnants of World War II. Deputy Secretary Landau conveyed his interest in visiting the islands to honor historical ties and shared wartime sacrifices.
The upcoming agreement between the Solomon Islands and the United States reflects increasing US engagement in the Pacific as it seeks to counterbalance China's influence and promote regional security and economic development.